Emergency services were called to help people in trouble in two separate incidents over a warm weekend in Studland, Dorset.
The first on Saturday 29th June 2024 saw Knoll Beach being cleared of visitors to allow the Dorset and Somerset air ambulance to land on the sand, while on Sunday 30th June 2024 both Swanage lifeboats crews went to the aid of a boat sinking in Studland Bay.
The Dorset and Somerset air ambulance lands on Knoll Beach helped by Swanage Coastguard
Suspected heart attack
In the first incident on Saturday 29th June 2024 at about 6 pm, a man on a boat in the bay had a suspected heart attack.
According to an eyewitness, it was fortunate that two off duty doctors and a nurse were nearby and were able to race him to the shore for treatment.
The Swanage ambulance car, a double crewed ambulance and the Swanage Coastguard team were quickly on the scene.
The man was moved into the ambulance, where the paramedics were able to continue giving him the emergency procedure CPR, while they awaited the arrival of the air ambulance.
Paramedics continued to treat the patient inside the ambulance as the helicopter arrives
The helicopter blades send clouds of sand in the air as it leaves for the Royal Bournmouth Hospital
Busy beach
With a busy beach, the air ambulance landed in a nearby field, while the coastguard asked beachgoers to move. Once space was made, the air ambulance flew round and landed on Knoll Beach, sending the sand flying.
The man was transferred to the helicopter and whisked quickly away to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Watch the air ambulance filmed by Mark Eady
Sinking motorboat
Just before 2 pm on Sunday 30th June 2024, reports came into the coastguard that a 25 foot motorboat was sinking quickly with three people on board, as it rounded Old Harry.
Both the Swanage all weather lifeboat and the station’s smaller inshore lifeboat were launched.
As they headed towards Old Harry, updated information came in over the radio that the boat had made its way into Studland Bay.
The all weather lifeboat started to pump out the water from the sinking boat
The lifeboat crew assess the extent of the flooding
Boat partially submerged
Helped by the Swanage Coastguard team who were watching from the shore, the motorboat was quickly located and tied to a mooring.
The stern of the boat was partially submerged and the engine compartment nearly flooded, but by this time, the boat crew had made it safely ashore using a jet ski.
In an attempt to stop the motorboat from sinking, becoming a hazard and causing environmental damage, the lifeboat crew started pumping out the water.
While the water level went down, the sea continued to flood back in, so with the pump still running the boat was brought closer to the shore and gently grounded in the shallow water.
This left the coastguard to hand the boat back to its owner in order for him to recover his damaged boat.
